A British historian has called on the mayor of London to support plans for a statue of Mahatma Gandhi next to Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square.
The irony of displaying a statue of Gandhi within walking distance of Buckingham Palace where the Father of the Indian nation defied the might of the British Empire in a face-to-face meeting with George V is not lost on Dr Tristram Hunt who teaches history at Queen Mary College in London.
He says the statue would be a fitting tribute to the founder of non-violent civil action. It would also celebrate the Anglo-Indian heritage, including the post-world war contribution of Indian communities to British culture.
Trafalgar Square, situated half way between Buckingham Palace and India House, has traditionally been a focal point for anti war and civil rights protestors. Recently closed to traffic, it has become even more of a public meeting ground.
"A city of the world should honour a citizen of the world," Dr Hunt wrote in Wednesday's Guardian newspaper. "A statue dedicated to Gandhi might also allow us to celebrate maturely our Anglo-Indian heritage. For as the Queen's disastrous royal visit to India in 1997 indicated, it is a history whose wounds are still raw."
"The monument would also offer an opportunity to celebrate the post-war contribution of Indian communities to British culture in realms as diverse as cuisine, fashion, business and public service," he wrote.
His proposal echoes the sentiments of actor-producer Richard Attenborough who paid tribute to Gandhi at this week's annual Satyajit Ray Memorial Lecture given at London's Nehru centre.
Recalling the events leading up to the making of his celebrated 'Gandhi' film, Lord Attenborough described how he forged a bond of understanding with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when he met him for the first time in 1962.
"Before Panditji died and Indira Gandhi became Minister of Information and
Broadcasting, he told her, 'I want you to make sure this film is made because Richard understands Bapu'," Attenborough had said.
"Many people in India thought it was awful that their hero should have a film made about him by an outsider from Britain. But the British were part of Bapu's life and he dealt with them brilliantly," he had said.
The proposal to honour Gandhi comes at a time when political relations between the UK and India have never been better, although there is growing public unease about the number of jobs that are being lost to outsourcing.
Gandhi's name and reputation, however, remain unsullied by political ups and downs.
A spokesman for London mayor Ken Livingstone confirmed there is a vacancy for what he described as the 'fourth plinth' in Trafalgar Square.
"Lots of ideas have been submitted. A committee nominated by the mayor is currently studying proposals to display temporary works of art on the vacant plinth," he said.
